Fujifilm XF1 versus rival model with similar score

Further readings for the Fujifilm XF1

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Sony’s update to the Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 includes provision for a optional EVF and a useful pull-out rear LCD, but the head line news is the inclusion of a newly developed back-illuminated Exmor R BSI-CMOS sensor with superior low-light performance. Read on to see how well the new sensor performs in our labs.

Nikon’s new Coolpix P330 is a classy ‘compact camera’. It’s very average when it comes to mundane things like size and weight but it performs better than many much more expensive cameras and has a list of features that covers pretty much everything you might need.

Launched in July 2012, the Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR is the latest in a line of cameras from Fuji, featuring an EXRCMOS sensor. Aimed at the upper end of the compact camera market, it offers features suitable for more advanced users and a lens focal range that is the equivalent of a 25-500mm lens in 35mm camera terms. So is this camera all things to all people?

In the compact camera market manufacturers will go a long way to make their product stand out: Carl Zeiss or Leica lenses for instance offer a certain cachet. The Samsung EX2F has several features that make you want to look closer; it has a Schneider Kreuznach lens, with an f1.4 aperture. It has built in WiFi to help you share or back-up your pictures and it is housed in a chassis of magnesium alloy. Are these things enough in this very tough market sector?

Launched in September 2012 the Fujifilm XF1 is a fixed lens compact aimed at advanced enthusiasts after a pocket-sized second camera for holidays and photo day trips. Featuring customizable function buttons, creative exposure modes and a manual barrel zoom lens with a 25-100mm equivalent focal length, there’s plenty of control for serious photographers to sink their teeth into. What’s more with a 2/3-inch 12-megapixel EXR-CMOS Sensor at its heart we’re optimistic the $499 Fujifilm XF1 will deliver on picture quality, too.

Fujifilm’s XF1 adopts a retro design that is frequently being employed by many of the top camera manufacturers. But this pocket-sized point-and-shoot is more of a showstopper – its polished leather-like finish demands attention. Does the XF1 have the sexy technical specs to match its killer good looks? Read DxOMark’s preview to get the skinny on the XF1’s most impressive highlights.

The enthusiast compact sector has undergone a distinct revival in recent years, with every major manufacturer now producing a model or two that offers full manual control and RAW format recording, aimed as a second camera for enthusiasts who usually carry an SLR. These cameras have generally fallen into two distinct camps - those featuring either fast lenses or long zooms with lots of external controls, and smaller-bodied 'shirt pocket' cameras. The latter category was more-or-less owned by Canon for several years with its S-series compacts such as the Powershot S100, but has recently been shaken-up by the arrival of the Sony Cyber-Shot RX-100 with its relatively large 1"-type sensor. Now it welcomes a new contender - the Fujifilm XF1.

Comments

Lens performance for compact cameras

Lenses are often quite weak on compact cameras. However DXOmark publishes score for the sensor only. Is it possible to draw any conclusion from this measurement as to the photographic quality of the camera including the lens ? Do you plan to test the combination of lens and sensor as you do for DSLR ? Thank you for your reply.

First replies for this comment

Re: Lens performance for compact cameras

Hello,

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

Actually we measured some lenses for compacts (Canon G1X and Sony RX1), but it is not systemically performed (it would take a lot of time and we are not sure that this could be the first priority for our reader).

However we should publish soon an in depth analysis of the Nikon Coolpix A lens for instance...

Re: Lens performance for compact cameras

Hello, Thank you for your reply but I was actually referring to compact cameras with a fixed lens such as Canon G15, Panasonic LX7 or Nikon Coolpix P7700. As the user does not have the choice of lenses, the score and measurement for the sensor only do not help much if the lens is weak.Since there is only one lens to test for such a camera, I think the workload for your test team would be minimal, and you would please a lot of enthusiasts who like to carry an expert point and shoot compact camera in addition to their DSLR gear.Best regards.

Re: Lens performance for compact cameras

Hello,Since I have had no answer to my previous post, I turn it into a question. Maybe I will be more lucky...Do you plan to test the combination of sensor and lens for Canon G15, Panasonic LX7 or Nikon Coolpix P7700 ?Thank you for your reply.

Re: Lens performance for compact cameras

For the moment, users can only compare compact camera sensor scores. But it does not really make sense, because the lens is fixed and inherently part of the system.

What good does it do to have a wonderfully performing sensor, think of Canon S110, if the lens is so slow that you lose a few stops in comparison to, let's say the Panasonic LX7. That translates to a very big difference in the DxoMark score, which completely makes the subtle differences you measure between sensors irrelevant.

People can understand that you do not have time to publish measurements of fixed lenses, even though there would not be that many combinations to test, and possibly lots of people curious to know.

At present, the scores for compact cameras are at best misleading because you do not explain readers that the lens is not taken into account for compacts. Why not adding an article or notes in the relevant sections of the "about" pages?

One more thing: lens apertures are not even mentioned in the compact camera specs pages.

Re: Lens performance for compact cameras

Hello!

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

Compact lenses are measured too but not systematically, but this is something we will try to improve in the next few month, for now the next lenses from a compact camera to be measured will be the one of the Nikon Coolpix A.

Lens performance on Enthusiast Compacts?

Thank you for another useful review. I often refer to your reviews when looking to make a new purchase, particularly for lenses. I note that DXO generally does not review a lens on compact enthusiast cameras. Most photographers, myself included believe the lens has a larger impact on final image quality than the sensor. I am sure the DXO testing experts would agree that a great sensor provides little value when pared with a dull lens with high distortion, vignetting and Chr. aberration. Image Quality is very important when comparing enthusiast cameras, please provide lens performance in future reviews.

Re: Lens performance on Enthusiast Compacts?

Once again the same repeated arrogance

You don't need to judge what's fair and not. This is so strange you think EXR Modes are cheat or unfair? Even if so, you can keep your combined score and comparison with the standard mode, but still mention how much DR and ISO performace improves in the respective priority modes.

First replies for this comment

Re: Once again the same repeated arrogance

The EXR modes have no effect on the raw sensor data. By combining the data from neighbouring pixels they achieve final output JPEGs with extended DR or lower noise levels, but with half the resolution.Since DxO analyze undemosaiced (unconverted) raw files, but not JPEGs, their tests cannot take the EXR modes in consideration.

First replies for this comment

Re: EXR score

Hi,

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

DxOMark score focuses on the sensor only. In the case of the EXR sensor, both modes available do not change anything on the sensor itself.If EXR mode is activated, it only underexposes one half of the image. The pixel quality is not impacted. So on a sensor point of view the potential gain in dynamic is compensated by the loss in resolution.In JPEG, and with a specific algorithm, some potential gain could be observed but we do not evaluate final images here.

EXR scoring

"To ensure a fair comparison with sensors from other manufacturers however, DxOMark presents Sensor Scores for the Fujifilm XF1 using a normal exposure mode and not EXR Mode."

Why not present both scores - with EXR and without - but use traditional scores in comparisons against others? I think it would be fair for the consumers to know what can be achieved with different approaches.

First replies for this comment

Re: EXR scoring

Hi,

Thanks for your interest in DxOMark.

DxOMark score focuses on the sensor only. In the case of the EXR sensor, both modes available do not change anything on the sensor itself.If EXR mode is activated, it only underexposes one half of the image. The pixel quality is not impacted. So on a sensor point of view the potential gain in dynamic is compensated by the loss in resolution.In JPEG, and with a specific algorithm, some potential gain could be observed but we do not evaluate final images here.